More than 5,000 gyms, fitness centres and yoga centres in town shall open Monday to ensure less than 50 percent occupancy, distance between guests and proper conduct, following 10 weeks of lockdown with new protocols.
“It will be a major relief. Exercise is necessary not only for good physical health but also good mental health. The current times are very stressful. People need to go to the gym after taking all necessary precautions,” said Ashish Tanwar, an engineer and a regular at the gym.
Arpita Aggarwal, another fitness enthusiast, said, “Yoga helps build good physical and mental health. It is extremely necessary. It is good that gyms and yoga centres can open now. If Covid-19 cases continue to go down, I hope the government soon allows swimming pools to open as well.”
In an announcement on Saturday, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) stated that the gymnasiums and yoga institutions can be opened on Monday in the capital.
“Gymnasiums and yoga institutes will be permitted to open with up to 50% capacity. The owners shall be responsible for ensuring strict compliance of Covid-19 appropriate behaviour. In case any violation is found, strict action will be taken against the owner, as well as the individual, and the premises will be sealed forthwith,” a DDMA notification, dated June 26.
Since April 19, Delhi has been under lockdown due to an unprecedented increase in Covid-19 cases. According to the government’s Covid-9 health bulletin issued on Sunday, Delhi recorded more than 28,300 new Covid-19 cases in a day at its peak on April 20 – a number that has now dropped to 89.
Gyms were only allowed to reopen on Saturday, despite the fact that Delhi began a phased relaxation process on May 31. Even during the previous year’s lockdown, when the lifting of restrictions began in early June, gyms and yoga studios – which are typically seen as a threat in terms of virus transmission due to their closed spaces and lack of social distancing – were all closed.
“Delhi has more than 5,000 gyms, fitness centres and yoga centres. The industry was under a lot of financial stress because of the previous lockdown. The latest one was a massive blow. Many of them went out of business in the last few weeks. We hope we manage to recover financially in the coming months,” said Chirag Sethi, vice-president of Delhi gym association.
Vinay Sangwan, owner of Anytime Fitness, a chain of gyms in Delhi-NCR, said: “In the time of the pandemic, people need to stay fit, both physically and mentally, for which gyms and yoga centres are very necessary.”
